The No. 15 LSU softball team’s trio of seniors came up big Sunday on Senior Day in Tiger Park to push LSU past Arkansas, 3-2.The Tigers (36-9, 14-5) swept the Razorbacks (24-21, 8-11) in the three-game series for the first time since 2008.”Three more wins, and it doesn’t matter how tight they were,” said LSU coach Yvette Girouard. “We showed some character, made great pitches when we needed to and got timely hitting.”Senior pitcher Cody Trahan (11-2) started in the circle and picked up her 12th-straight victory at home, dating back to a 12-0 loss on April 19, 2009, against Florida.The Orange, Texas, native pitched five innings, struck out four batters and allowed two runs on seven hits with no walks.Senior center fielder Kirsten Shortridge and senior right fielder Rachel Mitchell each added a hit in the game and combined for six hits in the series.Mitchell started the Tigers’ offense in the bottom of the first inning after drawing a walk, stealing second, advancing to third on a Shortridge ground out and scoring on a throwing error.The Razorbacks tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the fifth inning, but the Tigers struck again in the bottom of the inning.LSU loaded the bases, and junior designated player Ashley Applegate and freshman shortstop Allison Falcon each hit an RBI single to put the Tigers in front for good.”Everyone [holds] each other accountable and [passes] the bat,” Shortridge said. “As long as we do that, we’ll be fine.”LSU sophomore left fielder Ashley Langoni powered the Tigers to a 4-2 victory in game one against the Razorbacks on Saturday.Langoni went 2-for-3 from the plate and knocked in three RBIs, including a two-run blast over the right-field wall in the bottom of the fifth inning.Trahan picked up the win from the circle in game one. She pitched seven innings, struck out four, walked two and gave up two runs on three hits.Langoni came through for the Tigers again in game two Saturday with a walk-off double to give LSU a come-from-behind victory, 3-2, in 10 innings.Langoni stepped up to the plate with Shortridge on first base and Mitchell on second base with two outs in the bottom of the 10th inning.The Pueblo West, Colo., native hit a 1-0 pitch to left-center field for a double, scoring Mitchell and giving the Tigers the walk-off victory.”The games were intense and hard, but they are ranked right below us,” Mitchell said. “We persevered, and we did what we needed to do.”Arkansas came out swinging in the top of the first, scoring two runs on two hits in the inning.The Razorbacks threatened again in the top of the third inning, loading the bases with only one out, but LSU freshman pitcher Rachele Fico came in to relieve sophomore pitcher Brittany Mack and struck out the next two batters.LSU began its comeback in the bottom of the fourth inning.Shortridge singled to start off the inning and later scored on a sacrifice fly by sophomore first baseman Anissa Young, closing the gap to 2-1.The Tigers tied the game, 2-2, in the bottom of the fifth inning.Applegate led off the inning with a single to second base, advanced to second on a walk by sophomore pinch hitter Heidi Pizer and scored on a single up the middle by Mitchell.Fico (14-4) shut Arkansas out for 7 2/3 innings and picked up the win. The Oxford, Conn., native gave up four hits and a walk and struck out nine batters.
 
 
 
—-Contact Jarred LeBlanc at [email protected]